Background The question of an optimal strategy and outcomes in COVID-19 tracheostomy has not been answered yet. The critical focus in our case study is to evaluate the outcomes of tracheostomy on intubated COVID-19 patients. Methods A multicentric prospective observational study of 1890 COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy across 120 hospitals was conducted over 7 weeks in Spain (March 28 to May 15, 2020). Data were collected with an innovative approach: instant messaging via WhatsApp. Outcome measurements: complications, achieved weaning and decannulation and survival. Results We performed 1,461 surgical (81.3%) and 429 percutaneous tracheostomies. Median timing of tracheostomy was 12 days (4-42 days) since orotracheal intubation. A close follow-up of 1616/1890 (85.5%) patients at the cutoff time of 1-month follow-up showed that in 842 (52.1%) patients, weaning was achieved, while 391 (24.2%) were still under mechanical ventilation and 383 (23.7%) patients had died from COVID-19. Decannulation among those in whom weaning was successful (n = 842) was achieved in 683 (81%) patients. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy. The critical focus is the unprecedented amount of tracheostomies: 1890 in 7 weeks. Weaning could be achieved in over half of the patients with follow-up. Almost one out of four tracheotomized patients died from COVID-19.

Introduction The aim of our study was to obtain data about the contagion rate among Otolaryngologists in Spanish ENT Departments and about the clinical outcomes in positive otolaryngologists. As a secondary objective, we aim to assess the rate of contagion in the first and the second Covid-19 wave in Spain among Otorhinolaryngologists and the regional distribution by ENT-Departments. Methods Study design and population: This is a prospective observational study in a cohort of 975 Otolaryngologists from 87 ENT Departments conducted from March 25 to November 17 in our collaborative group, COVID ORL ESP. COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the diagnostic standard. Hospitalization and/or intensive care admission and mortality was recorded as non-identified data. Results Data collected from 975 otolaryngologist from 87 Departments resulted in 157 (16.5%) otolaryngologists testing positive for SARS-CoV-19 by RT-PCR. Important geographic differences in contagion are reported. A total of 136 (86.6%) otolaryngologists were tested positive during the first wave and 21 (13.3%) during the second wave. At the last cut-off point of the study only 30/87 ENT Departments (34.5%) remained COVID19-free and 5 Departments reported more than 50% staff members testing positive. The majority of positive tested otolaryngologists (126/157; 80.2%) had only mild or no symptoms, 17 developed moderate symptoms (10.8%) and 3 had pneumonia not requiring hospitalization (2%). Five colleagues were admitted at hospital, 4 required ICU (2.5%) and 2 colleges died from COVID-19. Conclusions During the first wave of the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic otolaryngologists in Spain have been overall the group suffering the highest rate of contagion, particularly during the first month. Subsequently, the Spanish Ministry of Health should include otorhinolaryngologists as a high-risk group in airborne pandemics.

La obstrucción primaria adquirida infrasacal del ducto nasolagrimal es una entidad bastante frecuente en pacientes de edad media y avanzada que origina epífora y blefaritis así como dacriocistitis crónica y/o recurrente. En el tratamiento de esta patología se sigue considerando, aunque cada vez menos, la dacriocistorrinostomía (DCR) externa como “el gold standard” con unas tasas de éxito que se sitúan alrededor del 85%. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, es considerada como una opción “invasiva”, que pone en riesgo estructuras como el mecanismo de bomba canalicular y puede generar una cicatriz poco cosmética. Estos riesgos potenciales se pueden evitar con técnicas menos invasivas (DCR endoscópica y la DCR transcanalicular con láser diodo modificada). La principal desventaja que puede presentar la técnica quirúrgica de dacriocistorrinostomía con láser diodo es la inversión económica por el alto coste del aparataje y su mantenimiento

Introducción y objetivo: La patología crónica de la vía lagrimal es frecuente en nuestros días, y su tratamiento quirúrgico se realiza mediante técnicas de dacriocistorrinostomia (DCR), pudiendo ser por abordaje externo o endonasal. El objetivo de dicho artículo, es la realización de una revisión de la DCR endoscópica, sus indicaciones, técnica quirúrgica y las posibles complicaciones: Método: Revisión narrativa. Resultados y conclusiones: La tasa de éxito obtenida con un abordaje endonasal endoscópico, es muy similar al de la DCR externa, considerada el ‘’gold standard’’; ofreciendo ventajas respecto a ésta como la ausencia de cicatriz facial y evitar la manipulación canalicular, que puede llevar a posibles estenosis posteriores. La DCR endoscópica es una técnica quirúrgica relativamente sencilla y rápida para la que se necesita instrumental básico de cirugía endoscópica. Las posibles complicaciones son infrecuentes, y de fácil control. estenosis.